Many think the Kingdom of God is reserved in eternity and will come to earth after a great tribulation and Jesus visibly returns. Some believe a born-again event brings a spiritual reign into our life and we wait for its natural reality to come in the future. Others perceive the Kingdom is a visible reality today.
Is the Kingdom of God anything like Israel of old? What about the never-ending Kingdom that Jesus introduced? What does Scripture really say? Where is the Kingdom of God?
Past Examples
We can all see and understand more clearly if we are not captivated by antique beliefs. Let’s take a few moments to consider past perceptions and then survey Scripture’s description of God’s Kingdom.
The first call to assemble and function as the Kingdom of God in the earth was facilitated by Moses. Following a deliverance from slavery in Egypt, people chose not to have personal interaction with God. (a) Instead, they focused on natural life and worshiped seven times a year in one location.
The faith response to God’s guidance was relegated to a set of rules, a Law to follow. In time the faith response morphed into a religious system. They failed to be an example of God’s reign that could bless others and draw them into its reality. (b) They eventually ceased to function as a nation.
Those that remained in the location and committed to the religion became known as Jews. The Jews of Jesus’ day looked for a Messiah to deliver them and restore their natural style kingdom. (c)
When the Messiah appeared, he brought a fresh clarity to God’s Kingdom. Jesus said the Kingdom does not come by force (d) and is readily available, as “at hand.” (e) The reign of God’s Kingdom begins in the hearts and minds of responders (f) and its reality would always be in the earth. (g) The function of this Kingdom quickly began to upset perceptions of God. (h)
Kingdom life involves natural lives that are led by God-in-Christ. Early Christians found their response to God included expressive actions. Their caring words and helpful deeds became an attractive witness to others that God was in their midst, with them, and among them. (i)
Eventually men desiring to be in control began to formulate faith expressions into a religious system that eventually would dictate what to believe. Systematically, over time, expressions of faith were reduced into restrictions and requirements. Expressions of worship were only in specified buildings.
In review, the first responders to God’s Kingdom oversight rejected personal interaction with God and settled for the freedoms of natural life. They failed to be a good witness of God’s way of life.
The second responders to Kingdom life thrived by focusing on personal interactions with God-in-Christ. They lived in their nations without sacrifices, a singular place of worship, or central controls. Man’s efforts to be in control eventually formed a religion that reduced faith responses to one system.
When the Messiah appeared, he brought a fresh clarity to God’s Kingdom.
An Inclusive Kingdom
Everyone is birthed into this life as offspring of God and man. We are intended to live a natural life infused by God’s Spirit of life. (j) Our personal involvement in both natural and spiritual realities allows us to grow and enlarge our conscious awareness and activity into levels of maturity.
As maturing children, our spiritual 
awareness continues to improve. Under God’s guidance we become more of what we are created to be, images and likenesses of our heavenly Father. Jesus revealed the perception that God’s Kingdom involves our natural response to His guidance.
Our words and actions reveal how much the Kingdom of God is functioning in and among us. (k) Its function affects everything in our life. We become visible illustrations of its reality.
It is important that we realize the Kingdom Jesus spoke of does not function as a utopian state. His reign includes a variety of conditions and responses, even interacting positive and negative forces.
God’s Kingdom reigns over those that are “shallow, joyful, worrisome, and fruitful.” (l) The Kingdom function includes “tares among wheat, yeast among flour, hidden treasures, both good and bad fish.” (m) It even has “goats among sheep, wolves clothed as sheep, and people building on sand.” (n)
The Kingdom of God is full of undesirable conditions and responses. He wants to lead and guide us through our different circumstances, difficulties, and interactions. (o) This is how maturity develops.
God’s Kingdom is inclusive and allows for various responses, even times of doubt. His interaction with us is not limited to any ethnic group, a future age, a religious methodology, or to one nation.
Remember, God loves all of His offspring, even when we ignore Him, are hesitant to respond to His voice, stray from His guidance, and act as silly or disobedient children. His desire is that we see and pursue the better life that is available in our day and not wait for a someday, or an after-life.
God wants to lead and guide us through our different circumstances, difficulties, and interactions.
A Developing Reality
We can however complicate God’s influencing presence by believing our experience is either spiritual or natural, with one people or another, or is not meant to impact our full life experience.
Jesus declared God’s Kingdom in the earth is a developing reality. “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He shall dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself shall be among them…the first things have passed away…Behold, I am making all things new.” (p)
God’s presence is noted in this passage three times as among us. In this natural realm, “making” is a process that includes discarding the previous, what was. God is making all things new!
Dwellers in the Kingdom are called “the Mountain of the Lord,” (q) the light of the world…a city set on a hill.” (r) Partakers “appear as lights in the world.” (s) Peter spoke to responders; “You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellences of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.” (t)
Jesus encourages us to “Let your light shine (where?) before men (how?) in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father.” (u) Participants in the Kingdom are to “arise and shine for the glory of the Lord has risen upon thee.” (v)
Responsive dwellers in the Kingdom are to be proactive in our limitations, with our imperfections.
As we share our light and discuss various perspectives as a unifying vision, we influence others to want to partake. (w) “Who among you is wise…let him show by his good behavior…wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits.” (x)
When the reality of our living together and functioning as the Kingdom of God in the earth is ignored or forgotten, the strength in our gatherings can weaken and our relational connections can eventually fall apart. (y) As a people of faith, we want to actively respond to God’s guidance.
We do not want our lack of involvement to contribute to delaying the blessings God wants to give. “It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.” (z)
May we continue to respond to God’s vision for Kingdom life and impact our world for the better!
As a people of faith, we want to actively respond to God’s guidance.
a) Exodus 20:19; Deuteronomy 5:23; b) Galatians 3:8-9; c) Matthew 11:3; d) John 18:36; e) Mathew 4:17; 10:7; f) Jerimiah 31:33; g) Daniel 2:24; Isiah 9:6; h) Acts 17:6; i) Luke 17:21; j) Genesis 2:7; 1:26; k) Hebrews 8:10; l) Matthew 13:18-23; m) Matthew 13:24-55; n) Matthew 25:32; 7:15, 24-27; o) Hebrews 10:24; p) Revelations 21:3-5; q) Isaiah 2:3; Micah 4:2; r) Matthew 5:14; s) Philippians 2:12-15; Proverbs 4:18-19; t) 1 Peter 2:9-10; u) Matthew 5:16; v) Isaiah 60:1-2; w) Isaiah 1:18; 43:26; x) James 3:13-17; y) Proverbs 29:18; z) Galatians 5:1
Keith Carroll, “The Relationship Guy”
Relational Gospel Founder
Created To Relate author